Dr. Terry Kupers

Dr. Terry A. Kupers is a psychiatrist and professor emeritus at The Wright Institute in Berkeley, California. His leadership and expertise have shed light on the intersection of mental health and incarceration, challenging outdated paradigms, and advocating for humane and effective solutions. At the forefront of Dr. Kupers‘ contributions is his pioneering research illuminating the detrimental effects of solitary confinement on mental health and the terrible human damage caused by sexual abuse behind bars. He has testified as an expert witness in jail- and prison-related litigation, and he pioneered trauma-informed approaches to mental health care within correctional settings. Dr. Kupers is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and recipient of the Exemplary Psychiatrist Award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Among the five books he has authored are Prison Madness: The Mental Health Crisis Behind Bars, and Solitary: The Inside Story of Supermax Isolation.